Wood Memorial Race 10 Aqueduct

Past Performance listed below, all you need to do is click the link and approve to view it.

Mike Beer - Aqueduct

Tenth Race

1. Mo Town 2. Cloud Computing 3. Battalion Runner
Question surrounding the Wood is whether or not either MO TOWN and/or IRISH WAR CRY can get back to one of their good races after disappointing in their most recent starts. If they can we may have a horse race on our hands. If they can't, I suspect that CLOUD COMPUTING is going to be very hard to beat. I'll stay positive on MO TOWN for one more race, as he was too good last year to toss readily aside following Risen Star where he chased a fast early pace and gave way off the layoff; do have to wonder when Dutrow will turn things around in NY, however. CLOUD COMPUTING impressed on debut when closing to win over a sprint distance, and he acquitted himself well when stepped up and stretched out in the Gotham, where he was kept close to a fast pace. BATTALION RUNNER ships up trying to become yet another Pletcher 3yo to make the Derby; suspect he will have to do better than he did in winning his two-turn debut as a heavy favorite most recently in Florida, but he is lightly-raced.

Blue Grass Race 10 Keeneland

Past Performance listed below, all you need to do is click the link and approve to view it.

Mike Battaglia

10th Race – Toyota Blue Grass (G1)

TAPWRIT (#4) was beaten by MCCRAKEN in the Sam F. Davis (G3) but came back to score impressively in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). He has shown improvement with every start for trainer Todd Pletcher and figures to love the added distance. Give him the slight edge in an excellent renewal of the Toyota Blue Grass. Undefeated MCCRAKEN (#2) is the Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite going into today's action. He is another one who has gotten better with every race and trainer Ian Wilkes will have him ready to go today. He will be hard to beat. J BOYS ECHO (#3) ran a huge race in the Gotham (G3) and a similar performance makes him a definite contender. WILD SHOT (#5) was taken back off a quick early pace in the Tampa Bay Derby but ran well to finish third and figures to be closer to the front today.

Santa Anita Derby Race 8 Santa Anita

Past Performance listed below, all you need to do is click the link and approve to view it.

Jeff Siegel - Santa Anita


RACE 8: Post 3:40 PT.

Use: 2-Reach the World; 7-Kimbear; 8-Gormley

This year's edition of the Santa Anita Derby may not have any world beaters in the line-up, but it's a deep and contentious affair with a number of legitimate contenders. Kimbear was very impressive breaking his maiden over seven furlongs in his last start, and the colt he beat - Sonneteer - came back to finished a very good second in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The son of Temple City is bred to stay nine furlongs, though he still has to prove he wants to run that far. At 12-1 on the morning line in an open affair, the Eric Kruljac-trained colt deserves a long shot look. Reach to the World is improving with racing and likely was best when second to Battle of Midway in a strong first-level allowance event last month. The son of Tapit may be most effective if taken back and allowed to produce one run, and given that type of trip in this speed-laden affair he could make the last run for the Arrogate team of Bob Baffert and Mike Smith. Gormley has been fading on the front end so we're expecting different tactics today. The winner of the FrontRunner S.-G1 over this track as a juvenile, the son of Malibu Moon has looked quite good in the a.m. of late and if responds to patient handling he might be heard from him a big way in the final furlong. We'll use all three in our rolling exotics and then have an extra ticket tor two on top keying long shot Kimber on top.

My picks

Gotham - Cloud Computing
Blue Grass - McCracken
Santa Anita Derby - Kimbear

Best Bet - Cloud Computing